The cross-border competition casts off this weekend for its fourth season, with five Scottish teams aboard on a voyage of discovery.
And discovery was key to two of those teams – Dundee HSFP and Stirling County – whose representatives met today (sic Monday) aboard Captain Scott’s ship, Discovery, berthed in Dundee, to have a deck-o at the prized silverware.
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Dundee Lord Provost Bob Duncan said: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome the teams here today. All events are very important to the city and this one especially so. I hope there will be a great deal of support behind our teams, and especially when we meet Cornish Pirates here later this month.”
Now in its fourth season, the British & Irish Cup has been expanded into a 32-team competition that sees the winners of each of the eight pools progress to the knockout stages. In addition to 12 teams being added to the competition, another format switch sees clubs now face each other home and away in the pool stages.
Today’s (sic Monday) ‘home’ team, Dundee HSFP, have been pooled with Swansea, Cornish Pirates and Carmathen Quins while Stirling County meet Neath, Bedford and Bedwas.
Stirling County President Kevin Robertson said: “Competitions like this are very important. We have a number of players who will no doubt have aspirations to play in the professional ranks and to expose them to a competition like the British & Irish Cup where the intensity will be greater than what they experience on a week-to-week basis in the Premiership, will really prepare them for going further in their careers.”
This weekend Stirling County host Neath (13 October, k/o 3pm). Meanwhile Dundee HSFP (High School Former Pupils) are away to Swansea (13 October, k/o 3pm).
Elsewhere Melrose play Doncaster (away, 13 October, k/o 2.30pm) and Gala meet London Scottish at Netherdale (13 October, k/o 2.30pm).
The participating teams comprise the 12 teams from the RFU Championship (including London Scottish); the development teams from the four Irish provinces; the top four teams from Scotland’s RBS Premier Division 1 last season; and the 12 teams from Wales’ Principality Premiership.
Joining the competition for their debut season are Bridgend Ravens, Bedwas, Stirling County, Carmarthen Quins, Dundee HSFP, Newcastle Falcons, Jersey and Gala.
The competition will now take place over nine rounds and will align with ERC (European Rugby Cup) weekends. The quarter-finals will be played the weekend of 5-7 April; the semi-finals 26-28 April; and the final Friday 17 May (tbc).
Pools (courtesy of BBC)
Pool 1: Cardiff, Bridgend, Bristol, Ulster
Pool 2: Bedford, Bedwas, Stirling County, Neath
Pool 3: Carmarthen Quins, Dundee HSFP, Cornish Pirates, Swansea
Pool 4: Connacht, Cross Keys, Newport, Newcastle
Pool 5: Jersey, Pontypridd, Leinster, Leeds
Pool 6: Gala, Llanelli, London Scottish, Moseley
Pool 7: Aberavon, Munster, Plymouth, Rotherham
Pool 8: Doncaster, Llandovery, Melrose, Nottingham
Round one fixtures (courtesy of BBC)
13 October 2012
Pool 1
Cardiff v Bristol (14:30 BST – British Summer Time, one hour behind South African Time)
Ulster Ravens v Bridgend Ravens (14:30 BST)
Pool 2
Bedwas v Bedford Blues (14:30 BST)
Stirling County v Neath (15:00 BST)
Pool 3
Swansea v Dundee HSFP (14:30 BST)
Cornish Pirates v Carmarthen Quins (15:00 BST)
Pool 4
Newport v Connacht Eagles (14:30 BST)
Newcastle Falcons v Cross Keys (15:00 BST)
Pool 5
Jersey v Pontypridd (15:00 BST)
Leinster A v Leeds Carnegie (19:00 BST)
Pool 6
Gala v London Scottish (14:30 BST)
Moseley v Llanelli (15:00 BST)
Pool 7
Aberavon v Rotherham (14:30 BST)
Plymouth Albion v Munster A (15:00 BST)
Pool 8
Doncaster v Melrose (14:30 BST)
Llandovery v Nottingham (15:00 BST)